Before you can edit the MSDOS.SYS file you have to
change its attributes. This can be done by clicking on Start then
Run, type in ATTRIB -S -H -R \MSDOS.SYS then click OK. You're now
ready to edit the MSDOS.SYS file, a sample file can be viewed below:

Allow Windows 95 OSR2x to automatically
run ScanDisk on the boot drive after an improper shutdown

1

0 Never Scan1 Scan (prompt)2 Scan (don't prompt)

BootDelay=

Initial startup delay in seconds

2

0 - 99

BootFailSafe=

Safe Mode for System startup

0

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootGUI=

Automatically run Windows 95 during
the startup process

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootKeys=

Allow startup keys (F4, F5, F6 and
F8)

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootMenu=

Display startup menu

0

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootMenuDefault=

Default highlighted menu item

1 (Normal)

1 - 8

BootMenuDelay=

Delay in seconds before running highlighted
menu item (only works if BootMenu=1)

30

0 - 99

BootMulti=

Allow F4 key to boot a previous operating
system

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootSafe=

Safe mode startup available

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootWarn=

Safe mode startup warning and menu
available

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

BootWin=

Windows 95 chosen as operating system

1

0 Windows 951 Previous OS

DblSpace=

Load DBLSPACE.BIN module (if present)

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

DisableLog=

Create BOOTLOG.TXT while booting

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

DoubleBuffer=

SCSI (and some older ESDI/IDE) controllers
need Double-Buffering

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

DrvSpace=

Load DRVSPACE.BIN module (if present)

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

LoadTop=

Load COMMAND.COM or DRVSPACE.BIN at
the top of the 640K memory area

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

Logo=

Display animated Startup Logo while
Windows 95 loads

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

Network=

Networking access

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

SystemReg=

Load System Registry modules at startup

1

0 Disabled1 Enabled

Hints and Tips

ACCESS YOUR DESKTOP ICONSFROM YOUR TASKBARTo have easy access to your desktop just place
a shortcut at the top of yourSTART Menu.

How to:1) Right click on the TASKBAR and choose PROPERTIES.2) Select the START MENU PROGRAMS tab, then click
theADD button.3) Type in C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP, then click NEXT.4) Select The item at the top of the list that
says "Start Menu", then click NEXT.5) Click Next again.

Note:You won't be able to access special feature icons,
such as: My Computer and the Recycle Bin.

OPEN EXPLORER INSTEAD OFMY COMPUTER TO VIEW FILESHow to:1) Click the Start Menu, Run, type in EXPLORER
then click OK.2) Choose View from the Options menu.3) Select the FILE TYPES tab.4) Under registered file types, double click
on FOLDER.5) From the list of actions, select explore.6) Click on the SET DEFAULT button at the bottom
right corner.

PREVENTING HAVING TO REBOOTIf you have the BootGUI string set to 1 in the
MSDOS.SYS file then this tip won't work.

How to:1) When you get a screen that says "It is now
safe for you to turn off your computer"; i.Type WIN then press ENTER
to start Windows 95 ii.Type MODE CO80 then press
ENTER to bring up the DOS screen

UPDATE THE REGISTRY WITHOUT REBOOTINGHow to:1) Press CTRL+ALT+DEL, select Explorer then click
End Task2) Wait for about 5 seconds, when a window comes
up click End Task

Note:The icons that were displayed in the tray (bottom
right corner of the task bar) will no longer be visible, but they are still
running.

USING LONG FILENAES AT THE COMMAND PROMPTHow to:1) When in DOS you will notice that Windows 95
stores long filenames as normal 8.3 (8 character name, 3 character extension)
filenames also, but the 8.3 filenames have a tilde (~) and then a number
at the end.2) If you wanted to perform a task
that involved a long filename you can do so as follows:DIR \PROGRA~1
--> dir
\"Program Files"REN \PROGRA~1 \OLDSOF~1
--> REN
\PROGRA~1 \"Old Software"etc...

MAPPING REMOTE SYSTEMS AS NETWORK
DRIVESI think you have to have a TCP/IP connection

How to:1) Create a file in the \WINDOWS directory called
LMHOSTS2) In the file, create a list of FTP sites eg.:

Note:You can switch between programs almost like the
taskbar, you can highlight programs and select END from the WINDOWS menu
and those programs will close.

CLEANING UP OPENED WINDOWS
To close multiple windows1) Select the folder that is highest up that
you want to close to, hold down SHIFT an click the X button.

USE THE RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON AND THE SHIFT KEYPeople used to working with Windows 3.1 or NT often become very "leftbutton-centric."
To use Windows 95 productively, use the right mouse button liberally. In
addition, the shift key often adds powerful features to a mouse click.

To format a disk drive, right click on the drive's icon in the Explorer
or in My Computer.

To minimize, cascade, or tile all windows, right click on the taskbar.

To empty the recycle bin quickly, right click on its icon.

To close, restore, maximize, or minimize a window, right click on its button
on the taskbar.

If a file has an associated application, but you want to open it with a
different application, hold down the shift key and right click on its icon.

To restart windows without rebooting the computer, go to the shutdown menu
and choose restart the computer. When you click OK, hold down the shift
key.

To launch Explorer on a drive or folder, right click on it instead of doubleclicking.

USING THE COMMAND PROMPTHere are some tips for people who don't want to leave behind their
command prompts.

In addition to the MS-DOS standards . and .., there are two new directory
symbols:

... is the parent directory, once removed

.... is the parent directory, twice removed

You can drag and drop files to the Command Prompt. The file name appears
in the keyboard buffer.

To have a batch file run each time you enter the Command Prompt, click
properties for the Command Prompt and enter its name under program/batch
file. Then put your favorite utilities, for example Doskey, into the batch
file.

You can run windows programs from the Command Prompt. You can also open
folders by typing "start ." or "start .." at the prompt. The start command
can even run programs or documents.

Registry Tweaks

This section will be up soon.

How to check your Windows version

Step 1

Win95 keyboard

While holding down the 'Win95 key' press the Pause/Break
key (located at the top right corner)

Alternative

Right-click on 'My Computer' and select Properties

Step 2Figure out what version you have by referring to the following diagrams:

Windows
95 OSR1

Windows
95 OSR2

Windows
95 OSR2.1

Windows
95 OSR2.5

System:

System:

System:

System:

Microsoft
Windows 954.00.950

Microsoft Windows
954.00.950 A

Microsoft
Windows 954.00.950 B

Microsoft
Windows 954.00.950 C

Updating Windows 95

It is always a good idea to update Windows 95, updates allow the newest
software to function properly and prevents crashing. Running updates
is easy, just click on the name of the update file, save it to a directory
on your hard drive, and then run it. After most updates Windows will
ask to restart, it's very important that you do this, it allows the updates
to take affect and prevents other updates from conflicting with each other.
When updating it is also very important to make sure that the update was
designed for your version of Windows. Before downloading any of the
following updates you should check your Windows version.
Free updates for Windows 95